Just completed two ten hour days returning home from two separate motorcycle events on the East Coast of Australia.Nothing better than hitting the "take me home" button on the GPS, putting the Bluetooth Helmet Speakers on and heading west stopping only for coffee and fuel.That after enjoying a group ride to get to both events in the first place.

There are a lot of fun curvy roads in middle TN where you will be in solitude with the exception of going and coming from work times, and then it is the dozen or so people who might live off those roads.

The beauty of interstates and state highways are that they keep most people off the back roads.

Sometimes and some places, an interstate is an interesting experience. But it doesn't feel like a real solitude adventure like an empty rural US , state or county road arrowing off through the scenery.

I'll admit, the solitude is a large part of why I love motorcycles so much. I throw a leg over, start the bike, kickstand up, close my visor and roll out. At that point, I'm in my own little world. Just me, and the machine that needs me. We complete each other, we are the perfect Yin and Yang.

This is a large part of why I have no desire to move closer to where I work. That 45 minute ride is my own personal paradise.

I absolutely treasure the solitude of riding and touring alone but there are limits... Rode Hwy 50 through Utah and Nevada going to the MGNOC National in Grass Valley, CA in 2001. 50 to 60 miles between towns gets a little spooky. As the sun started to set it made me think: What would happen if the Quota started acting up?

I ride alone for the most part, but the solitude hasn't been the same since I installed a Bluetooth unit in my helmet. I think it will be a positive addition however; weather alerts, routing instructions, calls from mi esposa, and all that. Still, I think I'll keep a couple of extra helmets around for when I want the world to go away...

Flying gliders is a great solitude experience. I generally fly without a radio and generally by myself. I feel like I have escaped earth and nothing can interfere with me until I land, totally in my own little world and totally self reliant. GliderJohn

While I do enjoy riding with my group of friends, I also prefer solo rides in the end. especially if I feel the need to think stuff through, to unwind or have a one on one ride with God and enjoy the beauty of the countryside. BK

For some, riding is a social event. For others, an escape from having to socialize.

For me, motorcycling is meditation. The engine sings a mantra and the mind empties of thoughts not necessary to steering around the curves or pondering the zen of the scenery.

Iím happily married and have solid friendships, but Iíve never had anyone on the passenger seats of the three Guzzis Iíve owned. Iíve attended a couple of rallies to talk bikes, but rode there and back solo. I have on rare occasions enjoyed a group ride, but adjusting my pace to the lowest common denominator and surrendering the ability to veer off the planned route takes some of the fun out of it.

Itís only partly because Iím an anti-social bastard at heart. My jobs have always required dealing with fellow humans of all stripes. I can pass for good company and love hearing interesting people tell their stories.

But my bike is a rolling Fortress of Solitude. Iím lucky to live on the edge of a bustling city where I can ride 15 minutes in any direction and be on a winding road where only an occasional car needs passing. I can almost always manage to get deliciously lost and see new sights.

This forum allows me to participate vicariously in your rides, get and share information on the care and feeding of these quirky Italian bikes, and rub up against personalities both endearing and prickly without hangovers or fisticuffs.

For some, riding is a social event. For others, an escape from having to socialize.

For me, motorcycling is meditation. The engine sings a mantra and the mind empties of thoughts not necessary to steering around the curves or pondering the zen of the scenery.

Iím happily married and have solid friendships, but Iíve never had anyone on the passenger seats of the three Guzzis Iíve owned. Iíve attended a couple of rallies to talk bikes, but rode there and back solo. I have on rare occasions enjoyed a group ride, but adjusting my pace to the lowest common denominator and surrendering the ability to veer off the planned route takes some of the fun out of it.

Itís only partly because Iím an anti-social bastard at heart. My jobs have always required dealing with fellow humans of all stripes. I can pass for good company and love hearing interesting people tell their stories.

But my bike is a rolling Fortress of Solitude. Iím lucky to live on the edge of a bustling city where I can ride 15 minutes in any direction and be on a winding road where only an occasional car needs passing. I can almost always manage to get deliciously lost and see new sights.

This forum allows me to participate vicariously in your rides, get and share information on the care and feeding of these quirky Italian bikes, and rub up against personalities both endearing and prickly without hangovers or fisticuffs.

For some, riding is a social event. For others, an escape from having to socialize.

For me, motorcycling is meditation. The engine sings a mantra and the mind empties of thoughts not necessary to steering around the curves or pondering the zen of the scenery.

Iím happily married and have solid friendships, but Iíve never had anyone on the passenger seats of the three Guzzis Iíve owned. Iíve attended a couple of rallies to talk bikes, but rode there and back solo. I have on rare occasions enjoyed a group ride, but adjusting my pace to the lowest common denominator and surrendering the ability to veer off the planned route takes some of the fun out of it.

Itís only partly because Iím an anti-social bastard at heart. My jobs have always required dealing with fellow humans of all stripes. I can pass for good company and love hearing interesting people tell their stories.

But my bike is a rolling Fortress of Solitude. Iím lucky to live on the edge of a bustling city where I can ride 15 minutes in any direction and be on a winding road where only an occasional car needs passing. I can almost always manage to get deliciously lost and see new sights.

This forum allows me to participate vicariously in your rides, get and share information on the care and feeding of these quirky Italian bikes, and rub up against personalities both endearing and prickly without hangovers or fisticuffs.

Flying gliders is a great solitude experience. I generally fly without a radio and generally by myself. I feel like I have escaped earth and nothing can interfere with me until I land, totally in my own little world and totally self reliant. GliderJohn

John, there is a glider club that I go by everyday when I'm working. It's in Davie county, NC, on NC 801. Just wondering if you may know those guys.

I don't do "group" rides where you just show up to an unknow group of folks. I don't do rally's as that's not my thing. I do have a select very small group of friends I ride/travel with and its great. We all get along and can ebb and flow as needed. I also like to ride solo its a different experience.

Traveling alone is exceptionally fun for 2 or 3 days then it get a bit lonely.

Riding alone in solitude is magical. If I wasn't married to the Fabulous Mrs Wavedog I would be a solo motorcycle vagabond following the seasons around the country. Or I would have sailed solo over the horizon and disappeared. Fortunately for me, the Fabulous Mrs Wavedog has held an incredible fascination for me and has kept my head in reality for 38 years and my life is better for it. Now days I ride with one or two friends for health reasons.

Once I did get to spend 28 days on the road riding and camping by myself. I discovered that I am ok with what goes on inside my helmet.

Traveling alone is exceptionally fun for 2 or 3 days then it get a bit lonely.

I hear you but...I don't think I could describe myself as either an extrovert or an introvert, just right on that fence line. When I am extended traveling alone and just for the sake of riding I find myself becoming more extroverted because I am more open to company and interaction. So at fuel stops, food stops and motels I meet new people and have some great interactions that I would have not have had otherwise. I also try to frequent the walk directly into your room motels (becoming less common) for one reason being that people tend to hang out outside creating more interaction opportunities. YMMV.GliderJohn

I kinda like riding by myself. I can go as fast or slow as I want and stop anywhere anytime for whatever reason. There are times though that it would be nice to have just a few riders along.

With that said. I was headed from Los Angeles to Yuma. Was riding alone except for the 60 bazillion cars on the freeway to San Diego. I stopped in El Centro for gas. Got back on the freeway and shortly 2 bikes came up to me. We were going about the same speed and headed the same place so I sped up a bit and rode behind them. Did I mention they were cruising at 80mph. We were all rolling along happily until two others came upon us. One of the two was easy to ride with, he knew how to ride in a group. The other guy scared the "S" out of me. I never knew where he was going to be, kept speeding and slowing. I think his buddy tamed him down. Then it was a pleasant hour ride with people that I did not know. Had a few cold ones at the Yuma Run with the guys I rode with. Nice bunch of guys. But when I headed home, it was just me and about 3 hours of desert until I hit SD, then the 60 bazillion cars again. Rats!!

Tom

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